Pedro comes off bench to fire Barcelona to stunning Super Cup win over Sevilla
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ByEurosport
Updated 12/08/2015 at 08:00 GMT
European Super Cup, Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tblisi – Barcelona 5 (Messi 7, 16, Rafinha 44, Suarez 52, Pedro 115) Sevilla 4 (Banega 3, Reyes 57, Gameiro 72 (pen), Konoplyanka 81)
Barcelona's Argentinian defender Javier Mascherano, Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez and Barcelona's midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrate with the trophy a
Image credit: AFP
Pedro came off the bench to score a dramatic extra-time winner as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-4 in an incredible European Super Cup clash.
After years on the fringes at Camp Nou the striker told the club on Tuesday that he wanted to leave - but Luis Enrique still trusted him enough to bring him on as the match went to extra time, and he was on hand to tap in when Beto could not hold on to Lionel Messi's free kick in the 115th minute.
Koke and Adil Rami might both still have forced penalties as each had a great chance in the dying seconds, but it was Pedro's goal which proved decisive in the highest-scoring European Super Cup of all time.
Whether the night of glory will convince Pedro to do a U-turn and stay remains unlikely - but at least the long-time servant of the club will have the chance to leave on a high.
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Barcelona v Sevilla: Banega scored a free kick inside three minutes
Image credit: Reuters
Sevilla took a shock lead in the third minute when Banega scored, but the treble winners were level five minutes later when Lionel Messi clipped a free-kick over the wall an into the top corner.
If Messi's first goal was good, his second was just brilliant. This time from even further out, the Argentine left Beto with no chance as his free-kick flew into the back of the net.
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona) celebrates a goal against Sevilla
Image credit: AFP
With Sevilla hoping to reach half-time at 2-1, Barca delivered a hammer blow. Luis Suarez was sent clean through and could only shoot at Beto’s legs, but the former Liverpool striker recycled the ball and teed up Rafinha, who scored the third.
Suarez finally added his name to the score sheet early in the second half after a gift from the Sevilla defence to make it 4-1 but Jose Antonio Reyes tapped in to peg Barca back.
Sevilla were then awarded a penalty with 10 minutes left after a foul by Mathieu, and Gameiro converted before they incredibly made it 4-4, with substitute Ciro Immobile providing the chance for another substitute Konoplyanka, who tapped in at the far post.
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Yevhen Konoplyanka (Sevilla)
Image credit: Imago
With five minutes of extra time to play before penalties, substitute Pedro struck after Beto spilt Messi’s shot, firing into the roof of the net to secure a remarkable 5-4 win for Barcelona.
KEY MOMENTS
3’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Barcelona: Mascherano's foul is penalised in emphatic style by Banega from the free-kick! What a start!
8’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona: It's a brilliant free-kick by Messi! The little magician clips the free-kick over the wall and into the top corner. Blistering start to the game.
10’CHANCE! Almost another goal for Barca as Rakitic plays a low cross to the back post but Rafinha, who was sliding to reach it can't quite make contact.
16’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona: It's brilliant, it's Messi again! Another free-kick by this wonderful, wonderful player. It clears the wall and leaves Sevilla keeper helpless. That was at least 25 yards out!
28’ GOAL! No... it's ruled out for offside! The man who appeared to be injured moments ago, Luis Suarez, taps the ball in from Mathieu's cross but the flag is up for offside and Barca's celebrations are cut short.
39’ OFF THE LINE! Ter Stegan makes a vital save but, with the ball rolling towards the line, that man Dani Alves gets back and hoofs it to safety.
44’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona: Rafinha makes it 3-1! Suarez is sent clean through but shoots straight at the legs of Beto. But Suarez recycles the ball, cutting it back to Rafinha, who gets there ahead of the keeper to tap in.
53’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-4 Barcelona: Suarez makes it four and it's an absolute gift. A loose ball goes straight to Busquets on the edge of the box, he feeds Suarez, who sweeps a low first-time shot in.
57’ GOAL! Sevilla 2-4 Barcelona: Hope for Sevilla as Barca are caught cold on the break. A perfect cross from the left clears the head of Mathieu and Reyes is on hand to tap in from close range. Interesting...
62’ OFF THE BAR! Pique is inches away from making it 5-2 with a glancing header from the corner which grazes the top of the bar.
72’ FROM THE SPOT! Sevilla 3-4 Barcelona: Ter Stegen goes the right way but Gameiro's penalty, awarded for a foul by Mathieu, had too much pace on it and Sevilla are right back in this! What a game!
81’ GOAL! Sevilla 4-4 Barcelona: Unbelievable. Instant impact by the substitute, Immobile, who wins the ball on the right, crosses for another sub, Konoplyanka, who taps in. WHAT A GAME.
89’ CLOSE! Messi almost wins it with another free-kick, which actually flicks off the top of the post. A hat-trick of free-kicks would have been the astonishing way to settle this astonishing game.
115’ GOAL! Sevilla 4-5 Barcelona: Pedro scores for Barca! Messi's free-kick hits the wall and comes back out to him. He has another go and Beto spills it and Pedro is first to react, firing into the roof of the net from close range. 5-4!
120’ WHAT A MISS! Sevilla should have forced extra time but Rami has missed an open goal! Immobile put it on a plate for him but he volleys it wide. Had to score.
KEY STATS
This game broke the record for the most number of goals in a Spanish Super Cup.
Lionel Messi has scored two direct free-kick goals in the same game for the first time in his career.
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Lionel Messi celebrates with Pedro, albeit while making sure the cameras can see his face properly
Image credit: Reuters
Barcelona have scored in their last 23 competitive games.
TALKING POINT
Have we seen the best game of the season before the season starts? La Liga will have to produce a classic or two this season to beat this. Goals, drama, terrible defending, fistycuffs and a penalty shootout. All the drama you’d want to see rolled into one epic game.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – Two free-kicks in a single game for the first time in his career and those goals set Barca on their way to what should have been a straightforward win. Pedro steals the headlines but it was another superb all round display by Messi.
PLAYER RATINGS
Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6, Dani Alves 7, Mathieu 6, Pique 8, Mascherano 6, Busquets 7, Iniesta 6, Rakitic 7, Suarez 8, Rafinha 7, Messi 8. Subs: Roberto 6, Bartra 6, Pedro 7.
Sevilla: Beto 6, Coke 6, Rami 7, Krychowiak 7, Tremoulinas 5, Krohn-Dehli 6, Banega 7; Reyes 7, Iborra 6, Vitolo 6; Gameiro 7. Subs: Immobile 7, Konoplyanka 7, Mariano 6.
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